Bike Extravaganza

Recovery from the half marathon Saturday has progressed as such: 

I finished racing at ~9:30 am on Saturday.  By 9:35 am I was getting sore.  :)  I jogged easy for a cooldown and ran about 15 minute/mi pace.  Okay, maybe 14 minute/mi pace.  Later that day I rode my bike for 2 hours.  Although I didn't want to and thought mean things about Dirk for making me, it was certainly the right thing to do.  I'm sure it went a long way in helping my legs feel better (and indeed after the ride I felt better than before it).  Of course I also took an ice bath Saturday and stretched and did all that other recovery stuff.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling like a truck hit me.  Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad.  But still, I was definitely sore - my back, my core, my quads, my hamstrings.  OH MY HAMSTRINGS!  I declared on twitter that "I am too old for this stuff."  ;)  Nevertheless I did my 4 hour brick and 4000 yd swim.  It was cold here on Sunday and riding in 30 degrees w/windchills in the 20s made me want to cry a couple of times.  Yet you notice I STILL choose that over the trainer.  Yes, the trainer is STRICTLY for interval workouts when in the south.  ;)

Monday I woke up sore again but much less so.  And with just a swim and lift on the schedule, I had much of the day to feel better.

And so today - today begins BIKE EXTRAVAGANZA!  And this is (part of the reason) why I came to South Carolina.  To ride my bike a lot.  Giddy up Petey!  :)

I will ride my bike every day for the next 9 days.  On day #10 I fly home to Pittsburgh (at which point I will pick up with the riding again on day #11 :).  Over the next 9 days, if the ride is under 3 hours, it's only because there are intervals involved.  There will be many miles and lots of sports drink.  As Michelle (who is also now doing a big bike week) would say, "pass the chamois cream please!" 

Wish me luck!  :)

And Happy Valentines Day to all!!